Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

This is the fourth installment in this franchise and the best!  I have enjoyed all the MIs, but I was very happy to see new life breathed into this film.  The first 3 are dark and very brooding and this one hits with new energy! The locations, the cars, the stunts are just incredible!  Tom Cruise reprises his role of Ethan Hunt, an IMF agent who has been disavowed and he, with 3 other agents, must stop a mad man with a nuclear device.  It’s all very clever, very thrilling and I’m a sucker for movies with a nod to the original and of course, there’s the famous music of Mission Impossible, which I’m still humming in my mind!  It runs a little long but “should you choose to accept the mission” you won’t be disappointed!

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

I enjoyed this movie a lot!  I’m a little young to remember the TV series, but I do like the movies.  I can’t stop thinking about some of the stunts – especially Tom Cruise climbing on the outside of and swinging around on the 240-story Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai – which he actually did with no stunt doubles!  I also thought it was cool how most of the devices they used were things we use in our everyday lives – things like iPhones and iPads - gadgets that may have seemed very futuristic in the 60s and 70s, but made it seem more plausible and like if I could find the right app, maybe I could do those things, too!!!  This was just a fun, entertaining movie! 

We Bought a Zoo

We Bought a Zoo wasn’t what I was expecting – I thought it would have more animals and silly stuff like The Zookeeper but I was pleasantly surprised – it had a story line and heart.  Based on true events, Matt Damon plays Benjamin Mee, who is raising two kids on his own after he lost his wife to cancer. The story itself isn’t sad but it is about the determination of a dad who is doing the best he can, given the hand he was dealt.  We find out that Benjamin is an adventurer and when he comes to a crossroad in his life he decides to buy a zoo.  The movie has a lot of appeal - I enjoyed the characters and the actress who plays his daughter is just a doll!  I would say this is a family movie but with a slight hesitation.  It is a story driven movie and the animals are secondary.  Even though we do see the animals, younger kids may get bored because there’s not enough scenes with the animals to keep their interest and there are a few minor cuss words if you are uncomfortable with your kids hearing any kind of language.  But overall, I really enjoyed!

We Bought a Zoo

I’d have to agree with Christy on this one – it wasn’t really what I was expecting, either.  It was more - a lot more!  The zoo itself was more of a side story, while the focus of the movie was more about how he was trying to deal with the loss of his wife and taking care of his children and starting life as a different family.  The movie really begins when he falls in love with a house…that has an attached zoo - and buying the house means buying the zoo, too!  It was hard to tell if they were going to make it work, but it turned out to be exactly what everyone needed.  I was expecting more of a kids’ movie, but I really enjoyed this one!  It was funny, it was sad, it was uplifting – a full movie experience!  Makes ME want to go find a zoo to buy, too!!!

War Horse

The horse in this movie is incredible!  He was more than just a horse.  It’s like the horse “knows” what’s going on during every scene and has a spirit that can’t be broken.  It’s amazing how many lives he touches through the course of the film!  Set during World War I, it’s an against the odds, never give up type of story - he’s a horse nobody wanted, the farm he’s working on is ready to fail, and his spirit always triumphs!  He goes from the farm and the boy who trained him and who he means the world to off to being a war horse and experiencing battles, being captured by enemies, and even being saved by others.  Everyone who comes in contact with him has their lives changed!  He gave them hope and allows people to triumph during incredibly bleak times by being put through test after test and he could have easily given up or been killed at almost any point.  If you’ve ever had that special connection with an animal, this film is for you!

Hop

Just in time for Easter, Hop,  jumps into our collection.  This cute animation (mixed with real time) film comes to life as E.B. (better known as the Easter Bunny) isn’t ready to take over the reins from his dad.  He has a dream – to be a drummer!!  His dream takes him from Easter Island, (where all the goodies of Easter are made) to where else . . .Hollywood!!  There he runs into or almost gets ran over by Fred, a slacker of a son who can’t make his parents happy either.  Once Fred gets over his anxieties about a talking rabbit – silly fun pursues as E.B. wants to live out his dream as a drummer for David Hasselhoff and Fred discovers he wants to be the new Easter Bunny.  But – an evil chick is on the loose on Easter Island and threatens to take them all down.  What will E.B. do??  Will he live out his dreams or save Easter Island? Russell Brand is the perfect voice for E.B., and James Marsden plays Fred.  I found this movie to be delightfully fun and even laugh out loud funny in parts. Whether it’s Easter or any other time – this is a perfect family movie for a night of popcorn and laughs!